Danville man sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison

URBANA — A Danville man has been sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to crack cocaine and weapons offenses.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Michael P. McCuskey sentenced Marquis D. Robinson, 40, who listed an address in the 0-100 block of South Beard Street, Danville, to 14 years and 7 months in prison.

Robinson pleaded guilty Aug. 31 to one count of distribution of crack cocaine, one count of distribution of 28 or more grams of crack cocaine, one count of possession of 28 or more grams of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute it and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to court documents, agents from the Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group used informants to make a controlled purchase of 13.9 grams (0.49 ounces) of crack cocaine at Robinson’s home on July 12, 2010. The group then used informants to make a controlled purchase of 41.5 grams (1.46 ounces) of crack cocaine at Robinson’s home on Sept. 13, 2010.

The documents said police had audio and video recordings of the purchases.

After police arrested Robinson on Oct. 6, 2010, Robinson told them that he did not have a job and that he used drug sales to pay for all his expenses. He also admitted to police that he had guns in his home.

After police got a search warrant for Robinson’s home, they found a .38-caliber handgun in his kitchen and a semi-automatic pistol in a shoebox in the home.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller.

The Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group is a multi-jurisdictional drug investigation unit comprising the Illinois State Police, Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department and Danville Police Department.

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He was arrested Oct. 6, 2010, pled guilty Aug. 31 of last year, and was just sentenced on monday? Why five months to get sentenced? Why almost two years to settle the case itself? What happened to speedy trials?